Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Season Greetings
Most learned people realize that Christmas can be a very difficult time for some. Studies show that Christmas Blues are a real thing. These blues occur for a variety of reasons and are often different for each person.
The holiday season can involve a lot of drinking and often people have bad experiences because of this. I know people who hate Christmas because their parents always got drunk and ugly. I have a few friends who lost a loved one at this time and the holiday season brings back that sadness. People with limited financial resources find themselves between telling their children they can’t afford the popular expensive toy or going deeper in debt. All these are hard, stressful situations.
But this year seems exceptionally difficult, even for those who usually enjoy the holiday because many are still going through a grieving process because of the election. They are worried about the future, for their family, friends and our country.
Personally, I have never been one to get excited about Christmas. Most of my friends when I was young loved Christmas for the gifts. It was the time of year when they would receive that special something they waited all year to get. I remember my gifts as being practical. I would get a sweater or new notebooks; socks and underwear were regular gifts. I didn’t mind. My parents never deprived us. If I needed a new baseball glove or I wanted a telescope my parents never said, “Wait until Christmas.”
As a young man I enjoyed the Christmas High Holy Mass. But when I was young the church was in Latin and it was more like chanting than preaching. As I matured, I challenged the church. I wanted the church to do more for the poor and stop telling everyone to “expect their reward in the next life.” When the church removed the Latin and began saying everything in English, the mystical part of the service was also lost and my interest waned.
As for politics, I’ve never been a fan. As a person of color, few presidents cared much for me or mine and the new one appears to be more of the same. So, I’m not quite as depressed about the election as all my white-liberal friends.
I’ve tried for weeks to see if I could put a good spin on this year’s holiday season. I’m not having any luck. Our children are grown and out of the house. We have no relatives in the area. No one I know seems to be having holiday parties. In our home this year no tree, no lights, no gifts. We just don’t feel it and can’t seem to fake it.
At a loss, we decided to go to the East Coast and spend time with my oldest daughter and her in-laws. It should be nice and we are looking forward to it. And that is the upside for me this season – my family, my immediate family, my extended family, my friends who are like family. And that is what I suggest to others who might be feeling similar Christmas Blues. Reach out to those far away and near. Surround yourself with close friends and loved ones. There is comfort there. There is love there. And this is what we all need more than ever now, love. Love for ourselves and love for one another.
The original teachings of Christianity preach love; love thy neighbor, love thy enemies, love one another. And if this holiday is really to celebrate the birth of Christ then hopefully we will follow those teachings and let love guide us.
Here’s to 2017. May it be better than expected.
Gabriel A. Fraire has been a writer more than 40 years.He served as the frist news editor for The Windsor Times in 1987. He can be reached through his website at: www.gabrielfraire.com
